This book made me think of the kids in the "Uni" program where I went to undergrad. It was the Ivy-wannabe college within the school. Those kids definitely seemed smarter than the rest of us. They kind of self-isolated and were aloof and multilingual.
I would love to read spoiler-filled take from you on what happens in the book. And I wish there WAS a movie of it. Heard the Goldfinch adaptation was crap... anyways thank you for another great review and fun gifs!!
Thanks! I feel like I missed out on the true aesthetic of being a philosophy major. I didn't start wearing all black until very recently, and I don't do aloof very well. Alas. Maybe in the next life I'll get it right. I need to figure out how to have spoiler convos. It would be fun to discuss the book with folks who've read it without spoiling it for others or making some exclusive clique among subscribers. Also, I'd have to imagine that some kind of adaptation has to be coming at some point. Maybe it's better suited to a series on a streaming platform instead of a straightforward movie. I could see Apple doing it.
Yeah that makes sense, with all the streaming services needing a constant flow of content... I do love that Maris suggests Timothee Chalamet as Francis.... Maybe for books that are already popular, you could have a separate link/page that goes over your thoughts on the ending. (I would love to discuss with ppl what they thought actually happened during the botched bacchanal. I mean, i know we know but... i would be interested in seeing an on-screen interpretation...)
I could see Chalamet playing Francis, or Richard or even Bunny. But I could see Kieran Culkin as Bunny for sure. Lucas Hedges somewhere in there, too. Maybe Tom Holland and Anya Taylor-Joy as Charles and Camilla? You could have a lot of fun casting the streaming version of this!
Regarding spoilers, etc., I know that some newsletter writers and YouTubers have Discord or Slack platforms for extended conversation and engagement with subscribers. But that is usually tied to some kind of extra subscription cost. I don't know that I have the bandwidth for something like that, with or without a charge, at this point. Maybe after I hit the lottery lol!
I want to like Donna Tartt. I really do, but I just don't. I have friends that are obsessed with The Secret History (to the point where we once just wandered around Bennington College) but it just doesn't do anything for me.
I similarly am not a huge A Little Life person and am super interested to see the backlash against it now.
Thanks! Yes, it's interesting that all these grumbles about A Little Life are coming out now. It's like there's this group of people who've been silent about it and are now giving voice to their feelings. I think it's totally fine if this book worked for people and if it didn't. There is plenty of room in the world for all reactions. Every book is not meant for every reader. It keeps things interesting!
This sounds terrifying. I was the kind of student who went to tea club in the basement of the student union on Friday nights. Though that probably counts as my weird college clique, because surprisingly few students wanted to join a club that got funding from the health center as an alcohol-free alternative weekend activity.
As a Nursing major we were weird in a different way. “How was your day? Crap I got a B on a paper. And yours: My patient coded, but lived” so while I went to college with mostly well adjusted friends, we were a tight click because we were growing up quicker than a lot of other students. Not a complaint, just a fact. I LOVED this book. An academic novel is my wheelhouse. So I completely related to the Greek scholars. Plus I felt this was better written than The Goldfinch. Great review. Enjoyed it after a lousy shift. Thanks!
Sorry you had a tough shift, Kate. But I'm glad you enjoyed the review! I definitely want to read another of Donna Tartt's books. But not sure I'll jump straight to The Goldfinch. It's massive!
Cool discussion here - and weird to think that there's never been a film version of The Secret History. Donna Tartt is one of about six authors I rush out to get as soon as they are published. Very intrigued by the Dark Academia genre.. At risk of sounding wimpy, I love the idea of the "Academia" genre without the darkness!
Thanks! I definitely want to read more of her work. But I may not get to it for a while because I am committed to whittling down a sizable TBR that's been building up on my bedside table. And there's nothing wimpy about wanting an Academia without darkness!
So, were you stalking the book or was the book stalking you? LOL. I miss the days of bookstore wanderings. I haven't done that in forever as I no longer have the patience since I have kids who will literally run around the place. The Secret History sounds interesting. I like the allure of a mystery to unravel, secret societies, and characters with dark personal secrets.
The Little Friend was vastly under- rated, Southern Gothic and unputdownable in parts (as it would have to be, at over 600 pages). We are all waiting for more, Ms Tartt!
This book made me think of the kids in the "Uni" program where I went to undergrad. It was the Ivy-wannabe college within the school. Those kids definitely seemed smarter than the rest of us. They kind of self-isolated and were aloof and multilingual.
I would love to read spoiler-filled take from you on what happens in the book. And I wish there WAS a movie of it. Heard the Goldfinch adaptation was crap... anyways thank you for another great review and fun gifs!!
Thanks! I feel like I missed out on the true aesthetic of being a philosophy major. I didn't start wearing all black until very recently, and I don't do aloof very well. Alas. Maybe in the next life I'll get it right. I need to figure out how to have spoiler convos. It would be fun to discuss the book with folks who've read it without spoiling it for others or making some exclusive clique among subscribers. Also, I'd have to imagine that some kind of adaptation has to be coming at some point. Maybe it's better suited to a series on a streaming platform instead of a straightforward movie. I could see Apple doing it.
Yeah that makes sense, with all the streaming services needing a constant flow of content... I do love that Maris suggests Timothee Chalamet as Francis.... Maybe for books that are already popular, you could have a separate link/page that goes over your thoughts on the ending. (I would love to discuss with ppl what they thought actually happened during the botched bacchanal. I mean, i know we know but... i would be interested in seeing an on-screen interpretation...)
I could see Chalamet playing Francis, or Richard or even Bunny. But I could see Kieran Culkin as Bunny for sure. Lucas Hedges somewhere in there, too. Maybe Tom Holland and Anya Taylor-Joy as Charles and Camilla? You could have a lot of fun casting the streaming version of this!
Regarding spoilers, etc., I know that some newsletter writers and YouTubers have Discord or Slack platforms for extended conversation and engagement with subscribers. But that is usually tied to some kind of extra subscription cost. I don't know that I have the bandwidth for something like that, with or without a charge, at this point. Maybe after I hit the lottery lol!
Fair enough! I love those casting ideas!!
I want to like Donna Tartt. I really do, but I just don't. I have friends that are obsessed with The Secret History (to the point where we once just wandered around Bennington College) but it just doesn't do anything for me.
I similarly am not a huge A Little Life person and am super interested to see the backlash against it now.
Great review as always!
Thanks! Yes, it's interesting that all these grumbles about A Little Life are coming out now. It's like there's this group of people who've been silent about it and are now giving voice to their feelings. I think it's totally fine if this book worked for people and if it didn't. There is plenty of room in the world for all reactions. Every book is not meant for every reader. It keeps things interesting!
I cannot agree with "Every book is not meant for every reader." enough! And that's okay!
This sounds terrifying. I was the kind of student who went to tea club in the basement of the student union on Friday nights. Though that probably counts as my weird college clique, because surprisingly few students wanted to join a club that got funding from the health center as an alcohol-free alternative weekend activity.
I think tea club sounds pretty fun! I wish I drank tea in college instead of a steady stream of beer and Mountain Dew.
Is there a point at which you did pick up tea?
Yes, but it wasn't until my 30s when I gave up coffee for the first time. Now I balance both.
As a Nursing major we were weird in a different way. “How was your day? Crap I got a B on a paper. And yours: My patient coded, but lived” so while I went to college with mostly well adjusted friends, we were a tight click because we were growing up quicker than a lot of other students. Not a complaint, just a fact. I LOVED this book. An academic novel is my wheelhouse. So I completely related to the Greek scholars. Plus I felt this was better written than The Goldfinch. Great review. Enjoyed it after a lousy shift. Thanks!
Sorry you had a tough shift, Kate. But I'm glad you enjoyed the review! I definitely want to read another of Donna Tartt's books. But not sure I'll jump straight to The Goldfinch. It's massive!
Cool discussion here - and weird to think that there's never been a film version of The Secret History. Donna Tartt is one of about six authors I rush out to get as soon as they are published. Very intrigued by the Dark Academia genre.. At risk of sounding wimpy, I love the idea of the "Academia" genre without the darkness!
Thanks! I definitely want to read more of her work. But I may not get to it for a while because I am committed to whittling down a sizable TBR that's been building up on my bedside table. And there's nothing wimpy about wanting an Academia without darkness!
So, were you stalking the book or was the book stalking you? LOL. I miss the days of bookstore wanderings. I haven't done that in forever as I no longer have the patience since I have kids who will literally run around the place. The Secret History sounds interesting. I like the allure of a mystery to unravel, secret societies, and characters with dark personal secrets.
It was definitely stalking me! I'm sure of it, LOL!
The Little Friend was vastly under- rated, Southern Gothic and unputdownable in parts (as it would have to be, at over 600 pages). We are all waiting for more, Ms Tartt!
Thanks, Cindy! I’m excited to read it. And looking forward to more from her. Hopefully soon!
love this review!! definitely check out the goldfinch, pretty sure francis actually has a cameo in it!
Thanks so much! Will do!